Community Service
We have a large caseload of native wildlife that includes ringtail and brushtail possums, wallabies, bandicoots, marsupial mice, blue tongue lizards, kookaburras, owls, and lorikeets. These animals are often unwell or injured due to habitat destruction and predators such as feral cats. All of the veterinary work on injured wildlife is carried out at no charge. We encourage any clients or members of the public that find inured wildlife to bring them to the surgery.
Wildlife organizations including W.I.R.E.S. (wildlife information, rescue and emergency service), Sydney Metropolitan Wildlife Service and W.A.I.F. (wildlife assistance and information foundation) use our services. Every second Monday and Sunday a dedicated W.A.I.F. vet attends the surgery to carry out special procedures on our injured native wildlife.
St Ives Veterinary Surgery also has strong links with the University of Sydney Veterinary School. We are an accredited Educational Support Practice that provides the opportunity for veterinary science students in years one and two to gain an insight into practice by visiting our surgery. Later in their veterinary education, final year students can work within the practice as an intern. Interns work under close supervision with one of our experienced veterinarians. By offering these positions to students we can help them with their chosen careers and instill them with knowledge and confidence that can only be gained through experience.
The veterinary surgery has provided the opportunity for a large number of school students to undertake work experience within the clinic. An exciting and rewarding aspect of this project is that some of these school students have continued on to study veterinary science at university and we have proudly watched them graduate as fully qualified veterinarians. Also we have had many students perform the community service component of their Duke Of Edinburgh Award Scheme at the surgery, with some having achieved the gold award.
The veterinary surgery has also sponsored a wide range of community fund raisers for Corpus Christi Primary School, St Ives Primary School, Pymble Public School, St Ives Australian Rules Football Club, Pymble Ladies College and St Ives Rugby Club. We have helped with the organisaton of the Ku-ring-gai Council Dogs Day Out and provided veterinary supervision at this terrific and fun event. We also support The Northern Suburbs Dog Training Club and would recommend that all dog owners consider training for their dog.